Speaking to the press at a Republican confab in Mackinac Island, Michigan, the freshman senator from Kentucky conceded that he doubts the House resolution passed Friday, which would defund the Affordable Care Act, could emerge from a Senate debate unscathed and unamended. One of the most vocal opponents of Obamacare, Paul does hold out hope that threatening to not pay for the legislative program could result in a finished product that's "less bad."

"In the end the sausage factory in Washington will make the sausage," Paul told the Detroit News.

Paul, whose potential as presidential contender in 2016 has been a subject of much speculation, admitted that absent a sudden and total alignment behind an approach to tackling the health care law, his caucus' "disunity" means Republicans will most likely fall short of canceling, or even delaying, the law from going into effect.

"Leverage doesn't work unless people believe you'll actually do something," Paul said. "The fact that Democrats don't believe we'll do anything, in the end they'll get what they want and a bill will be cobbled together."

soundoff(273 Responses)

DocHollywood

"...............could result in a finished product that's "less bad.".............."
Perhaps you should try to make a 'finished product' that much better. That's the problem with you guys. You just want to get rid of something you don't like, instead of making what's law a better law. You just waste your energy while America suffers. Spend that energy on amending and improving the ACA, and while you're at it, instead of voting on constantly repealing a law, try writing some that will invest in America's future, like jobs.

September 22, 2013 07:44 am at 7:44 am |

George

Oh please, run for President 2016! Hillary for President!!! Because, we need intelligence in the White House

September 22, 2013 07:46 am at 7:46 am |

don in albuquerque

1'st runner up in the Barney Fife lookalike contest. About the same intelligence level too. Republicans should be so proud they let the Tea Baggers in.

When the GOP minority thinks they can dictate to the majority that was elected in the last election with threats and obstruction , it shows the voters that the GOP teaparty needs another beat down after which they will have NO power at all!!!!

September 22, 2013 07:53 am at 7:53 am |

Belseth

So he admits they are wasting their time. Hey it's not like they have a GOVERNMENT TO RUN!

The stupid GOP should just give up before they get kicked out of office in 2014 midterms , more then half the country wants it . If the GOP wants. To keep their jobs , they better STOP listening to that teaparty goof Jim demint!!!!!

September 22, 2013 08:01 am at 8:01 am |

Bob B

Rand Paul 2016 !!!!

September 22, 2013 08:20 am at 8:20 am |

Martha in CF

Mr Rand must realize it is the law of the land. The American people have been held hostage by the insurance companies for too long. They talk about premium increases-the insurance companies have been free to do what they want with us. I think it is a shame that we have to live in fear that we will lose or be turned down from coverage. I hope too that the people that opt out of coverage, that the American people don't have to pick up the tab for them if they get sick or need hospitalization with an huge medical bill from it.

September 22, 2013 08:23 am at 8:23 am |

Joseph

Food stamps cut/ opposition to people health care translate patern of policies against poor people. Government should fight poverty instead of harrassing and terrorrizing the poor

September 22, 2013 08:26 am at 8:26 am |

tom

My wifes health insurance just went up 20%,with a $5000 dedutable,thaks to obamacare,also they still can exempt conditions they wiil not cover,thank you stupid democrats.

September 22, 2013 08:26 am at 8:26 am |

annieL

Yes, Mr. Paul. The people who elected those Democrats will get what they want. Is there something WRONG with that? It's called representative democracy. And you thought, what? That the minority who elected you and a handful of other bomb-throwers who want to destroy the economy instead of create jobs and help people get medical care when they get cancer or have a heart attack would get YOUR way? God bless America. Love it or leave it, Mr. Paul.

September 22, 2013 08:29 am at 8:29 am |

Alvin Cavanaugh

Obama care should not be past into law until it is voted on by all of the American people. This concerns everyone and SHOULD be held up for a majority vote and I don't think that it would ever pass. I don't believe that the people of America, as a whole, would ever pass Obama care into law if given the chance.

September 22, 2013 08:30 am at 8:30 am |

Jerry Schull

Of course your efforts are going to fail. Indeed, the mere effort is hurting all Americans by creating an atmosphere of uncertainty. The sooner the Republicans realize that to succeed they must get the support of the MAJORITY of Americans, the sooner they will have a chance of succeeding.

Advice to Republicans:

1) Move back to a more centralist position. The radical right position you now support is just alienating Americans.
2) Try offering something, then negotiate in good faith. The position of all or nothing has failed you.
3) The problems we have with the budget MUST be addressed with small gradual changes across the board, NOT nuking particular programs that people rely on. You want a return to the lawlessness of the '20's then make changes that the majority do not want.
4) We need to address Medical and Recreational MJ at the Federal level. This is NOT a states issue. We have thousands incarcerated for non-violent MJ related crimes. Imagine the $$'s saved in incarceration cost alone by legalizing MJ and releasing ALL the MJ related inmates. NOT to mention the savings in enforcement cost. And then again how about the income for reasonably taxed and regulated medical and recreation sales? This is just plumb incompetence of our Congress for not addressing this issue.
5) The military needs to be cut back. We spend way too much on our military. More than the top 12 nations spending COMBINED! We need a military that can defend US, not the globe. We are NOT the police of the world!

Just my 2 cents.

September 22, 2013 08:31 am at 8:31 am |

Squidward

Rand Paul: Another bloviating wind-bag phony who tries to talk a good game, then falls flat on his face just like the rest of our so-called "representatives". Face it, folks: these self-aggrandizing pieces of human trash in Washington don't give a tinker's damn as to what you or I want. We're nothing more than taxpaying wage-slave cash cows to these rotten excuses for human beings, and now they know with absolute certainty they can foist whatever legislative trash they want upon us and all we can do is say "Yessir Boss." Thanks for showing what a non-difference-maker you are, Rand.

September 22, 2013 08:34 am at 8:34 am |

wgf

It's not that the Democrats don't believe you're willing to "do something". They totally believe you're willing to shutdown the government. But to give in to Republican demands to effectively de-legalize a law through lack of funding would be nothing less than paying blackmail, and the Republicans would continue to use this tactic with every CR and Debt Limit increase. This is why it was wrong for Obama to negotiate with the Debt Limit the last time. Though in that case failure to do so would have probably cost him the Presidency and would have resulted in the repeal of the law.

The Republicans basically believe that if they have the ability to create a catastrophic event, then everyone is forced to go along with whatever they wish to do. It is a vile and evil mindset usually relegated to criminals and terrorists.

September 22, 2013 08:42 am at 8:42 am |

Toad

Cruz played the Tea Party like a fiddle. Got them all worked up into a frizzy thinking he could stop Obamacare while at the same time he was pandering to the base and raking in the money at the same time!!!

September 22, 2013 08:43 am at 8:43 am |

Truck

It will survive only until it helps collapse our once great nation.We can't afford this monstrous tax bill.

September 22, 2013 08:47 am at 8:47 am |

Francisco

I hooe so. Many people with pre-existing conditions are depending on it.

September 22, 2013 08:53 am at 8:53 am |

SixDegrees

I'm pretty sure that make him a blasphemous apostate, doesn't it?

September 22, 2013 08:55 am at 8:55 am |

JD

Forty something times later of wasting tax payer money someone from the right winger do nothing party admits there is nothing they can do about a law they helped pass to begin with. Come on 2014!

They knew this after the last election it wasn't going to happen yet they have wasted time and money trying to repeal and impeach or default and the rest of the political grandstanding going on.

It's about fund raising and trying to gauge the American response to this for the next elections. Instead of trying to fix what ails us, they focus on what can divide us. Both parties are guilty of being in the business of re-elections instead of creating jobs.

September 22, 2013 09:08 am at 9:08 am |

cfd

Especially now that Congress has exempted itself from it

September 22, 2013 09:08 am at 9:08 am |

AR

Then why this showboating and holding the country hostage tactic? I question the patriotism of the current core of elected representatives.